CVE-2022-28843 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) identified in Adobe Bridge, specifically affecting version 12.0.1 and earlier. Adobe Bridge is a digital asset management application widely used by creative professionals to organize, browse, and manage multimedia files. The vulnerability arises when Adobe Bridge processes certain maliciously crafted files, leading to an out-of-bounds write condition. This memory corruption flaw can potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a malicious file designed to trigger the vulnerability. There are no known public exploits in the wild as of the publication date, and no official patches have been linked or released at the time of this report. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling arbitrary code execution, which could lead to unauthorized access, data manipulation, or system compromise. However, the attack vector is limited by the need for user action and the scope is confined to the privileges of the user running Adobe Bridge. The vulnerability was reserved in early April 2022 and publicly disclosed in mid-June 2022, with enrichment from CISA indicating recognition by US cybersecurity authorities. Given the nature of Adobe Bridge as a desktop application primarily used in creative industries, the threat is particularly relevant to organizations handling digital media assets.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-28843 could be significant in sectors relying heavily on Adobe Bridge for digital asset management, such as media companies, advertising agencies, design studios, and publishing houses. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to steal sensitive intellectual property, manipulate media files, or establish persistence within the victim’s environment. This could disrupt workflows, cause reputational damage, and lead to financial losses. Since the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to deliver malicious files, increasing the risk in environments with less stringent user training or email filtering. Additionally, compromised systems could serve as entry points for broader network intrusion, especially if the affected user has elevated privileges or access to critical internal resources. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits over time. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the potential impact and the exploitation complexity. Organizations with extensive use of Adobe Bridge should consider this vulnerability a moderate risk that warrants timely mitigation to prevent escalation.

1. Implement strict user awareness training focused on recognizing and avoiding opening suspicious or unsolicited files, especially those related to Adobe Bridge workflows. 2. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict Adobe Bridge’s ability to execute arbitrary code or interact with sensitive system components. 3. Monitor and restrict file types that Adobe Bridge can open, potentially blocking or quarantining files from untrusted sources. 4. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected memory writes or process injections originating from Adobe Bridge. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups of digital assets to enable recovery in case of compromise. 6. Regularly check Adobe’s official channels for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 7. Limit user privileges where possible to reduce the impact scope if exploitation occurs. 8. Integrate email filtering and attachment scanning to reduce the likelihood of malicious files reaching end users. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the attack vector (malicious files), monitoring application behavior, and preparing for incident response specific to Adobe Bridge environments.